India held a formidable reputation for 28 years at Olympics. Indian Men’s hockey team in the glorious past, have won six consecutive gold medals from 1928 to 1956. Winning two more golds at Olympics, later in 1964 and 1980 makes it a total of 8 golds.
Memorable of all, is the Indian hockey men’s gold of 1948. Indian men won this gold against the British soon after becoming an independent nation. This prestigious golden moment was turned into a movie by Akshay Kumar, commemorating India’s first gold medal as an independent nation.
Getting a closer look at what is called the golden age of hockey in India :
First Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – Amsterdam 1928
At Amsterdam, in the 1928 Olympics Games, India won its first Olympic hockey gold. The match saw a legendary performance by Dhyan Chand. He was the top-scorer with 14 goals at the event.
In India’s 29 goals across five matches, Dhyan Chand’s hattrick lead India to victory in final. And India hockey men clinched its first ever gold at Olympics.
Second Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – Los Angeles 1932
In 1932 Games at Los Angeles, first there was an internal battle in Indian Men’s hockey squad. The squad comprised of ‘Indians’ and the ‘Anglo-Indians’ having the internal conflict. Even one of the member of the squad denied to wear a turban which was part of the official team attire.
The competing nations were – India, host USA and Japan. Fortunately, keeping their egos aside, Indians dominated the hockey field. India decimated the hosts 24-1 in their first game. Roop Singh( Dhyan Chand’s younger brother) was the star performer securing 10 goals and his elder brother added a significant 8 goals.
Presenting themselves with such a strong form, India was undoubtedly invincible in a game against Japan. Victorious Indians secured 11-1 to clinch their second consecutive goal medal in the final.
Third Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – Berlin 1936
Scoring 30 goals and conceding none against Hungary, USA, Japan and France in the league stages, India was again a fearsome team. In the semi-finals, brothers Roop Chand and Dhyan Chand dominated the field again.
Captain, Dhyan Chand retired after ensuring third gold to his name. Dhyan Chand scored another hattrick in the final beating hosts Germany 8-1. The first gold medal hattrick of Indian Hockey Men was noted down in the pages of Olympic history.
Fourth Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – London 1948
Given the context of World War II, 1940 and 1944, Olympics was cancelled. In 1948, Olympics resumed after 12 years of break. And India won its first gold after becoming an Independent nation at London 1948.
This year saw a new star performer, Balbir Singh Sr. In the final, India encountered the Great Britain. Although greeted by a 25,000-strong capacity crowd at the iconic Wembley Stadium, Balbir remained steadfast. He scored twice to a 4-0 victory against Britain. This moment is turned into a movie ‘Gold’ by Akshay Kumar.
Fifth Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – Helsinki 1952
As the vice-captain of the team at Helsinki 1952, Balbir Singh Sr, gave another heroic performance. In the final against Balbir secured 5 goals in 6-1 victory against Netherlands. Also, skipper KD Babu’s performance is defined as poetic as he was the mastermind and playmaker of team India. Together they lead the Indian hockey men’s team to the fifth Olympic gold medal.
Sixth Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – Melbourne 1956
India bathed in glory when it chronicled the second hattrick of Olympic golds. The striker Balbir Singh Sr was now the captain of Indian Men’s Hockey team. He suffered a fracture in his right hand, and it was deemed to be a tough competition.
However, Balbir didn’t give up. He led India to a sixth Olympic triumph with 1-0 against Pakistan. This marked the historic sixth consecutive gold medal of Indian Men’s Hockey. The second hattrick.
Seventh Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – Tokyo 1964
Indian hockey team’s winning streak was ended by arch-rivals, Pakistan at Rome 1960. Pakistan won their first Olympic gold medal. At Tokyo 1964, they met the rivals for the third consecutive time in finals.
Pakistan had previously claimed two triumphs over India at Asian Games. Pakistan’s Munir Ahmed Dar blocked a shot from a penalty corner with his foot. This gave the Indian hockey team a penalty stroke which Mohinder Lal used skillfully to give them the lead.
Pakistanis goalkeeper Shankar Laxman fiercely attacked the Indian hockey team but India eventually managed to record a seventh Olympic gold medal.
Eighth Indian Hockey Men Gold Medal – Moscow 1980
Three Olympics passed and unlike of India, they did not secured a gold medal in any of them. In 1980 Olympic Games, Indian hockey team was under immense pressure to break the cycle.
Reaching finals against Spain, Indian hockey team faced a tough battle. With Mohammad Shahid, setting up several goals across matches, Indian hockey team was saved this time. He also secured one goal in the triumphant 4-3 against Spain, to claim the eighth gold medal won by Indian Men’s Hockey team.
READ MORE : “Miracle on Ice”: When the USA Ice Hockey Team Stunned USSR at the Olympics
Gold medals Indian Men’s Hockey Team at Olympics :
| Venue | Year | Medal | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 1928 | Gold | Jaipal Singh |
| Los Angeles | 1932 | Gold | Lal Shah Bokhari |
| Berlin | 1936 | Gold | Dhyan Chand |
| London | 1948 | Gold | Kishan Lal |
| Helsinki | 1952 | Gold | KD Singh ‘Babu’ |
| Melbourne | 1956 | Gold | Balbir Singh Sr |
| Tokyo | 1964 | Gold | Charanjit Singh |
| Moscow | 1980 | Gold | Vasudevan Baskaran |
Tabinda Mir is a writer from Kashmir. She is an English Honours graduate and her interests primarily dwell in poetry and sports writing. She likes to cover Cricket as an avid fan. Apart from sports, her other publications include articles, poems and a letter to summer in the book titled, “Under The Summer Skies”.
Also, her leisure time activities include reading novels, poetry, non literary works, philosophies and writing poetry, short stories, articles on diverse themes.
